10+ Grilled Salmon Recipes to Savor This Summer

Grilled salmon recipes are one of the best ways to enjoy a healthy, flavorful meal. Just toss some salmon over a flame and you’ll get that smoky, rich taste with hardly any effort.

You don’t need to be a grill master to make these work. Even if you’re just trying something new, grilled salmon is flexible and fits almost any meal.

You’ll pick up a few tips here for keeping your salmon juicy and packed with flavor every time.

1) Classic Lemon Garlic Grilled Salmon

This classic lemon garlic grilled salmon is as simple as it gets, but it never disappoints. The lemon and garlic bring out the salmon’s natural goodness, and honestly, it’s tough to beat.

Marinate your fillets with lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Let them hang out for about 15 minutes to soak up the flavor.

Grill the salmon skin side down over medium-high heat. Cook 4-6 minutes per side, and don’t fuss too much—just check if it flakes with a fork.

Ingredients

• 4 salmon fillets
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
2. Marinate salmon fillets in the mixture for 15 minutes.
3. Preheat grill to medium-high heat (about 375°F / 190°C).
4. Place salmon skin side down on the grill.
5. Grill 4-6 minutes per side or until salmon flakes easily.
6. Remove from grill and serve immediately.

2) Maple Soy Marinated Salmon

Try this maple soy marinade if you want something sweet and savory. Maple syrup and soy sauce make a killer combo, especially with a touch of garlic and sesame oil.

Let the salmon marinate for at least 30 minutes. Grill it over medium heat until it flakes—don’t overthink it.

Serve with rice or steamed veggies. Quick, tasty, and honestly, who doesn’t love a sticky glaze?

Ingredients

• 4 salmon fillets
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 2 cloves garlic, pressed

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix maple syrup, soy sauce, sesame oil, and garlic in a bowl.
2. Put salmon in a shallow dish and pour marinade over it.
3. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.
4. Preheat grill to medium heat (about 375°F / 190°C).
5. Grill salmon for 4-6 minutes per side until cooked through.
6. Serve warm with your choice of sides.

3) Cedar Plank Grilled Salmon

Cedar plank grilling is a little extra, but totally worth it for that subtle smoky kick. Just soak your plank for at least 30 minutes so it doesn’t catch fire.

Marinate the salmon with soy, ginger, or lemon and herbs. The plank keeps the fish moist and lets the flavors shine.

Put the soaked plank with salmon right on the grill. Close the lid and cook at medium heat until the salmon flakes with a fork.

Ingredients

• 1 cedar plank, soaked for 30-60 minutes
• 1.5 to 2 pounds fresh salmon
• ¼ cup soy sauce or ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest or 1 tablespoon ginger, grated
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Soak cedar plank in water for 30-60 minutes.
2. Preheat grill to medium heat (about 350°F / 175°C).
3. Season salmon with soy sauce or olive oil, lemon zest or ginger, salt, and pepper.
4. Place salmon skin-side down on soaked plank.
5. Grill with lid closed for 20-25 minutes until salmon flakes easily.
6. Remove from grill and serve.

4) Spicy Cajun Grilled Salmon

If you like a little heat, go for spicy Cajun grilled salmon. The seasoning mix gives a nice kick but doesn’t drown out the fish.

Rub your salmon with oil, then coat it in cayenne, paprika, garlic powder, and dried herbs. This creates a spicy, flavorful crust.

Grill at about 400°F (205°C). Cook for 15 to 20 minutes, aiming for an internal temp of 130°F (54°C).

Let it rest for 10 minutes before serving. The result? Juicy, spicy, and just a little bold.

Ingredients

• 4 salmon fillets
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat grill to 400°F (205°C).
2. Brush salmon with olive oil.
3. Mix spices and rub evenly on salmon.
4. Place salmon on the grill.
5. Cook 15-20 minutes until internal temp hits 130°F (54°C).
6. Remove and rest for 10 minutes before serving.

For more details, check out this Cajun grilled salmon recipe.

5) Honey Mustard Glazed Salmon

Honey mustard glazed salmon is a crowd-pleaser. The glaze is sweet, tangy, and comes together in seconds—just honey, mustard, garlic, and a splash of lemon juice.

Grill the salmon over medium heat. Brush the glaze on while it cooks for a sticky, tasty coating.

Keep an eye on it and pull it off when it flakes with a fork, usually around 10-12 minutes.

Ingredients

• 4 salmon fillets
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons mustard (Dijon or grainy)
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat grill to medium heat (about 375°F / 190°C).
2. Mix honey, mustard, garlic, and lemon juice in a small bowl.
3. Season salmon fillets with salt and pepper.
4. Place salmon on grill skin-side down.
5. Brush glaze on salmon, cook 5-6 minutes per side.
6. Brush more glaze while grilling for extra flavor.
7. Remove when salmon flakes easily and serve warm.

6) Grilled Miso Salmon

Grilled miso salmon brings a rich, savory punch to the table. Mix up miso paste, soy sauce, ginger, and a few extras for a quick marinade.

Coat the salmon in the marinade and let it sit for at least 30 minutes. Grill over medium-high heat until it’s cooked through and a little caramelized.

This one goes great with rice or veggies. The miso glaze is salty-sweet and, honestly, kind of addictive.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb salmon fillets
• 3 tbsp white miso paste
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp mirin or rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 2 green onions, sliced

Cooking Instructions:

1. Whisk miso, soy sauce, mirin, ginger, sesame oil, and green onions in a bowl.
2. Place salmon in a shallow dish and pour marinade over it.
3. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
4. Preheat grill to medium-high heat (about 400°F / 200°C).
5. Grill salmon 4-5 minutes per side until cooked and caramelized.
6. Serve hot with your favorite sides.

Find more details in this miso-ginger grilled salmon recipe.

7) BBQ Salmon with Brown Sugar Rub

Try BBQ salmon with a brown sugar rub if you want something smoky and a little sweet. Brown sugar, salt, paprika, and black pepper make a simple but tasty rub.

Massage the rub onto your salmon fillets. Grill or smoke them over medium heat until they flake easily, about 130°F (54°C) inside.

Alder wood brings a nice aroma if you’re using a smoker. This one’s easy, but the flavor feels special.

Ingredients

• 4 salmon fillets
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix brown sugar, paprika, salt, and pepper.
2. Rub the spice mix evenly on all salmon fillets.
3. Preheat your grill or smoker to medium (about 350°F / 175°C).
4. Place salmon on the grill or smoker.
5. Cook for 12-15 minutes until salmon flakes easily.
6. Remove from heat and serve.

8) Herb Butter Grilled Salmon

Herb butter grilled salmon is comfort food at its best. The butter melts into the fish, picking up all that fresh herb and garlic flavor.

Let your salmon come to room temp. Preheat the grill to medium.

Spread the herb butter on your fillets as they grill. Parsley, basil, or dill all work—use whatever you like.

Grill for about 10 minutes, or until the salmon flakes with a fork. The butter keeps it moist and adds richness.

Ingredients

• 4 salmon fillets
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat grill to medium heat (about 350°F / 175°C).
2. Mix butter, parsley, basil, and garlic in a bowl.
3. Season salmon fillets with salt and pepper.
4. Place salmon on the grill, skin side down.
5. Spread herb butter on top of each fillet.
6. Grill for 8-10 minutes or until salmon flakes easily.
7. Remove from grill and serve warm.

Want to dig deeper? Check out Grilled Salmon with Herb and Meyer Lemon Compound Butter Recipe.

9) Teriyaki Grilled Salmon

Teriyaki grilled salmon is honestly one of the easiest ways to make fish taste amazing. You just marinate the salmon in a mix of soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger.

That marinade gives the fish a sweet and savory kick that works so well with the smoky flavor from the grill. It’s kind of addictive, honestly.

After marinating, toss the salmon on a grill set to about 350°F (175°C). Grill each side for maybe 3 to 5 minutes.

You’ll know it’s ready when the salmon flakes apart with a fork. Super simple.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb salmon fillet with skin
• 1 cup light soy sauce
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 tbsp fresh ginger, grated

Cooking Instructions:

1. Mix soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger in a bowl.
2. Marinate salmon in the sauce for at least 30 minutes.
3. Heat grill to 350°F (175°C).
4. Grill salmon skin-side down for 3-5 minutes.
5. Flip and grill the other side for 3-5 minutes until fish flakes easily.

10) Garlic Butter Grilled Salmon

Cooking salmon with garlic butter is honestly one of the easiest ways to get great flavor. The garlic butter melts over the fish as it grills, making everything taste rich and savory.

If you grill the salmon over medium heat, you won’t burn the butter. Ten minutes usually does the trick, and you’ll get salmon that’s flaky and moist.

You can use either an indoor or outdoor grill for this. Personally, I like to toss in some fresh herbs—parsley or dill are my go-to options.

Just mix the herbs right into the garlic butter. It’s a quick way to brighten up the flavor.

Ingredients:

• 4 salmon fillets
• 4 tbsp butter
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh parsley or dill (optional)

Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat your grill to medium heat (about 350°F / 175°C).
2. Mix butter, garlic, and herbs in a small bowl.
3. Season the salmon with salt and pepper.
4. Place salmon on the grill, skin side down.
5. Cook for 5 minutes, then spread garlic butter on top.
6. Grill for another 5 minutes or until salmon flakes easily.
7. Remove from grill and let it rest for a minute before serving.